Haas goes full patriot with stars ‘n’ stripes livery for US GP

Haas has revealed the one-off livery that it’ll run at this weekend’s US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, the latest in a long line of some very hit-and-miss specials across the grid in 2023.

So far McLaren has been the most proactive with three so far this season, including its Triple Crown job for Monaco and Spain, the Chrome edition for Silverstone and Singapore’s ‘Stealth Mode’ effort.

Red Bull also got in on the action with a one-time, fan-designed livery for the Miami GP; two more are expected for this weekend and the inaugural Las Vegas in November.

Ferrari went all ‘yay for Le Mans’ for its home race at Monza (where Alfa Romeo also went rogue), and Williams ran this fan-selected Gulf livery in Singapore, Japan and Qatar. Phew.

This Haas attempt in front of its home crowd predictably goes big on stars ‘n’ stripes, although the designers have restricted themselves to the sidepods, nose body and front wing endplates, save the VF-23 become unrecognisable.

And before you ask, no, ‘We The People’ isn’t an indie band you’ve never heard of, but the first words written in the US constitution.

Meanwhile, drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen - who will both be retained for 2024 - will be bequeathed with matching racing overalls and gloves. Mercifully there’s no sign of cowboy hats… yet.

Paint scheme aside, there’s talk of Haas bringing a big upgrade to Circuit of the Americas. For the team’s sake it needs to transform the car’s pace: it currently trails Williams and Alfa in the battle for seventh, eighth and ninth place. The difference between them is millions in prize money to be spent on next year’s car.

Team principal Guenther Steiner and owner Gene Haas will also be keen to put on a show as talk of Andretti’s F1 bid ramps up another notch…